Macdonald 'not remorseful'

Ewen Macdonald has been sentenced to five years in jail.

He was found not guilty in July of murdering his brother-in-law Scott Guy.

But the Feilding farmer has just been sentenced on a series of other charges at the High Court in Palmerston North.

These include two counts of arson, poaching deer, destroying thousands of litres worth of milk and a vandalism attack on the Guy family home.

During sentencing Justice Simon France recalled one of the attacks on Foxton farmer Paul Barber's property:

"The Barbers had 19 calves held in a nearby shed and you and Mr Boe (accomplice Callum Boe) killed all of them. One was still alive, but dying when the scene was discovered the next morning."

Justice France described the attack as brutal and callous and says the Barbers were dismayed at the offending.

But defence lawyer Greg King told Justice France that Macdonald regretted intensely the person he had become.

"He hated the person he had become and the reality of the extent of the harm and hurt that he had caused was instrumental in him turning his life around."

However Justice France told the court he had seen or heard no signs of remorse from Macdonald.

Earlier this week Scott Guy's widow Kylee Guy wrote to the Attorney-General requesting Macdonald serve time for each crime consecutively, rather than at the same time.

The family of Scott Guy say the sentencing of Mr Macdonald doesn't give them any closure or satisfaction.

His father, Bryan says today is yet another reminder of how one person's actions have affected everyone in his family.

He says Macdonald has lost the family's trust, has hurt them deeply, and has also shaken the values which his family holds dear.

But Bryan Guy says the turmoil his family has been through has brought them closer, and they're now focused on their future and the challenge of building a new life.

He says they're determined to build a future not on anger or revenge, not on resentment or sorrow - but one on love, compassion, truth and faith.

A High Court judge rejected Mr Macdonald's claims that he's remorseful for his series of crimes.

Photo: NZ Herald